Chewing Gum Composition and Method of Making Same

The present invention relates to the art of chewing gum base compositions, and, in particular, to gum base compositions which include an elastomer and a resin component prepared without the need for certain undesirable components.

Chewing gums available today generally contain a water-insoluble or base portion and a water-soluble flavor portion which is dissipated over a period of time during mastication of the gum in the oral cavity. The base portion can include a natural or a synthetic elastomer, and, optionally, a resin component and a texturizing component for achieving a particular perceived effect by the consumer.

The present invention is particularly concerned with those gum base compositions in which there are both an elastomeric portion as well as a resin component which can be made to be compatible in combination without the need for certain undesirable ingredients heretofore generally considered necessary.

The elastomer component can, in accordance with the present state of the art, include synthetic elastomers, natural elastomers, or combinations thereof. This element generally provides the insoluble cud with resiliency to recover from deformation caused during chewing. The resin component, which is also a polymeric material, provides the insoluble cud portion of the gum with other desirable characteristics such as film forming capabilities, and inherent strength for unbroken deformation under chewing forces, i.e., "lay-flat" quality, etc.

In order for the overall cud containing both an elastomeric portion and a resin component to retain the desired characteristics of the combination, inherent cohesivity of each of the individual components must be overcome or dissociated to some extent in order to open up the structure sufficiently to be compatible for mixing Only when the two components are "opened up" sufficiently to be miscible to some extent with each other, can a satisfactory base portion be provided for addition of desired texturizing agents and eventually chewing gum composition ingredients, e.g., sugar, flavoring, etc.

Thus, in order to prepare a high-grade gum base, it is necessary to effect compatibilization of an elastomer and the resin component when the two are used in combination. In the case of high molecular weight resins, this can be a particularly difficult problem, in view of the intensity of the inherent strength of the inter-molecular attractive forces or inter-molecular interaction.

In the past, it has been generally considered necessary to include rosin esters, hydrogenated rosin esters, polymerized rosin esters and unhomogenized esters, and terpene resins to compatibilize the elastomeric component with the resin component especially high molecular weight resin such as high molecular weight polyvinylacetate, e.g., having a molecular weight of greater than about 20,000.

Although the use of these esters and ester derivatives, help to compatibilize otherwise generally immiscible gum components, there are several drawbacks which would encourage one to refrain from using such ester gums. In particular, ester gums have unpleasant taste and odor and are characteristically rigid, very hard, brittle, nonchewable, and require significant amount of energy as well as the addition of extensive amounts of softeners, fillers, etc., in order to achieve proper texturization. Thus, even though the gum can be pliable and elastic at the beginning of the chewing or mastication period, it can quickly become excessively pliable and sticky in the mouth, lose its elasticity, and develop an unpleasant chewing sensation. Furthermore, cracks can develop in the gum during storage which can cause shedding.

Similarly, elastomer solvents used to compatibilize elastomer components with resins have included terpene resins such as polymers of beta pinene, and betapinene. Other problems are incurred by use of the terpene solvents, similar to those problems incurred by use of rosin esters and derivatives thereof.

Efforts in the past to eliminate the need for wood rosin esters and terpenes, have included polymerizing the monomer unit of a resin such as vinyl acetate and/or vinyl propionate in the presence of a hydrogenated petroleum resin alone or in mixture with a hydrogenated petroleum resin with known chewing gum base additives and/or known natural resins for chewing gum bases. This is disclosed in Japanese Patent Public Disclosure No. 49-205,10 (1974). Other efforts have included the use of comparatively expensive compatibilization components such as glyceryl triacetate, and acetylated monoglyceride, combinations thereof, etc. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,452,820 to D'Amelia, et al. discloses a single phase formulated homogeneous gum base which contains a plasticized elastomer and a plasticized resin in the absence of ester gum. In the case of the D'Amelia, et al. '820 disclosure, a styrene butadiene elastomer is plasticized with a plasticizer selected from one of butyl stearate, butyl oleate, glyceryl trioleate, oleic acid, or mixtures thereof, while the resin component is plasticized with a plasticizer selected from the group consisting of glyceryl triacetate, glyceryl tributyrate, triethyl citrate, acetylated monoglyceride, etc. and combinations thereof. In the case of the process disclosed in the Japanese reference, it is required to copolymerize the components, and in the case of the D'Amelia '820 disclosure, it is necessary to provide a plasticizer for each of the components, one of which is a rather expensive plasticization component.

Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 3,984,574 to Comollo has attempted to reduce the need for rosin derivatives, with polyvinyl acetate and polyterpenes in order to reduce the tackiness associated with such bases. In order to do so, Comollo requires the use of polyisobutylene in combination with polyvinyl acetate and hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated vegetable oils or fats in an amount of 5-50%, and filler in an amount of 5-40% in order to allegedly achieve an abhesive or non-tacky base. The Comollo '574 disclosure requires the use of vegetable oils and fats and mineral adjuvants as fillers to achieve the desired result.

Thus, it is an object of the present invention to provide a gum base composition which includes both an elastomer and a resin in the absence of rosin esters.

It is a further object to provide a gum base as described above which does not require the use of terpene softeners.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a gum base without the need for ester and terpene softeners by use of a inexpensive compatibilization component.

Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a gum base in which a chewing gum composition can be prepared in a continuous process without the requirement for aging, cooling, etc.

Other objects will become apparent to the skilled practitioner in view of the disclosure as set forth below.

The present invention is a chewing gum base composition having an elastomer component and a resin component which can be prepared in the absence of rosin esters and terpenes. The present chewing gum base composition includes an elastomer component raised to a compatibilization temperature for addition of a compatibilization component. It further includes a high melting point compatibilization component, preferably a high melting point wax which can be added under low shear mixing conditions at a temperature sufficient to masticate the elastomer for forming a substantially homogeneous mass with the resin component. The compatibilization component is capable of effecting dissociation of the elastomer under these conditions of temperature mixing for forming the substantially homogeneous mass. Finally, a resin component is added under low shear mixing conditions and at mildly elevated temperatures until a substantially homogeneous gum base mass is formed.

Optionally, the gum base composition of the present invention can include a texturizing component having ingredients selected from the group consisting of softeners, fillers, emulsifiers, and combinations thereof.

The elastomer component can be selected from the group consisting of styrene-butadiene copolymer, polyisobutylene, polyisoprene, isobutylene-isoprene copolymer and natural elastomers.

In one preferred embodiment, the gum base composition can include a first solid elastomer component and a cold flow elastomer component after said solid elastomer component has been masticated by use of said high melting point compatibilization component.

Preferably the high melting point compatibilization component is a high melting point wax wherein the melting point is from about 130.degree. to about 250.degree. F., preferably from 16020 to 215.degree. F., and most preferably between 175.degree. and 195.degree. F. Such waxes can include microcrystalline wax and paraffin wax.

The resin component of the gum composition of the present invention is preferably a high molecular weight resin selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl acetate, polyvinyl butylester, copolymers of vinylesters and vinylethers, polyethylene, ethylene-vinylacetate copolymers, vinylacetate, vinylalcohol copolymers, vinylacetate-vinyllaurate copolymers, and combinations thereof. By high molecular weight it is meant that the resin have at least about 20,000 MWU.

With regard to the texturizing component, softeners can be selected from the group consisting of hydrogenated vegetable or animal fats, glycerol monostearate, lecithin, coconut oil, palm oil, fatty acids, glycerol triacetate, and acetylated monoglyceride and combinations thereof. Furthermore with regard to the texturizing agent, there can be included a filler component selected from the group consisting of calcium carbonate, aluminum hydroxide, alumina, magnesium carbonate, dicalcium phosphate, talc, magnesium trisilicate, magnesium hydroxide, alumina silicates, silica gel, organic fillers, and combinations thereof.

Preferably the gum base composition includes elastomer component in an amount of from about 5% to 20% by weight of said base, and preferably from about 7% to about 15% by weight, whereas the resin component is included in an amount of from about 10% to about 50% by weight based on the gum base, and is preferably included in an amount of from about 25% to about 40% by weight. The high melting point compatibilization component, e.g., high melting point wax is included in an amount of from about 15% to about 55% by weight of the base, and is preferably from about 28% to about 45% by weight. Finally, the texturizing component is included in an amount of from about 10% to about 35% of the base, and is preferably included in an amount of from about 12% to about 24% by weight.

The present invention also includes the method of preparing a gum base composition by heating the elastomer component to a temperature of from about 220.degree. C. to about 250.degree. C. followed by step-wise addition of the compatibilization component such as high melting point wax in, for example, four increments followed by 10 minutes of mild mixing.

In a most preferred embodiment, it has been known to use a cold flow elastomer component as an additional compatibilization component such elastomer defined as not being a solid at room temperature.

Finally, the present invention also contemplates chewing gum compositions which includes a gum base composition prepared in accordance with the formula and in accordance with the method set forth therein.

As a result of the present invention a high quality gum base can be prepared for use in nearly all types of gum compositions without the need for inclusion of wood rosin esters and derivatives thereof including terpene components. Thus, as a consequence, characteristics and features of such ester components which detract from the quality of a chewing gum base and composition made therefrom are eliminated.

It is also possible as result of the present invention to continue to prepare a chewing gum composition continuously from the preparation of the chewing gum base by continued mixing without the requirement of intermittent cooling, aging or otherwise interrupting the chewing gum making process.

For a better understanding of the present invention, together with other and further objects, reference is made to the following description, and its scope will be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the preferred embodiments of the present invention, it has been found that a gum base can contain any of the preferred elastomer components in combination with a resin component to form a single phase homogeneous base with or without a texturizing component to render a base with good organoleptic properties.

In particular, the elastomer component of the gum base of the present invention can be selected from the synthetic elastomers styrene-butadiene copolymer, polyisobutylene, isobutylene-isoprene copolymer (butyl rubber), natural rubber (polyisoprene), as well as masticatory substances of natural origin, such as rubber latex solids, chicle, crown gum, nisparo, rosidinha, jelutong, pendare, perillo, niger gutta, tunu, etc.

The resin component, on the other hand, can be selected from polyvinyl butyl ester, copolymers of vinyl esters and vinyl ethers, polyethylene, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers, vinyl acetate-vinyl alcohol copolymers, vinyl acetate vinyl laurate copolymers, and in particular high molecular weight polyvinyl acetate, which is at least about 20,000 MWU.

Since both the elastomers and the polymeric resins have an inherently strong intermolecular interaction, sometimes referred to as cohesive energy-density, which must be overcome to some extent in order to achieve compatibility, the elastomer is first treated to be opened up sufficiently to effect miscibility with the selected resin. Accordingly, it has been found that the elastomer, such as polybutyl rubber can be heated to a temperature for opening up the intermolecular structure under conditions of low shear mixing, such as with a sigma blade at low revolutions, after which a high melting point compatibilization component can be added.

As mentioned before the preferred high melting point compatibilization components include high melting waxes such as microcrystalline wax, paraffin, etc.

The compatibilizing wax should be added in increments in a step wise addition process, after the elastomer has been reduced to a fine particulate consistency, such as a sandy consistency. Interestingly, it has been found that liquid wax used in a compatibilization role at these temperatures and conditions do not properly effect the conditioning of the elastomer in order to effect miscibility with the resin component.

Thus, in one embodiment the wax component which is included in an amount of from about 15% to about 55% based on the weight of the gum base, can be added in increments of 25% of the overall weight of the wax and subjected to the above-described mixing conditions for periods of 10 minutes each.

In the most preferred embodiment, it has been found that a non-solid elastomer, such as an oligomeric butyl rubber component can be included as one of the stepwise additions of the wax component, to achieve a optimum elastomeric component suitable for forming into a homogeneous gum base with a resin, especially a high molecular weight resin. While the reason for the increased efficiency of mixing using the oligomeric elastomer is not entirely certain, it is believed that the principle of like components dissolve like components comes into play, and that the non-solid oligomeric component enters into the intermolecular structure to increase miscibility therewith. One particularly effective combination has been found to be a solid polybutyl rubber elastomer in combination with oligomeric butyl rubber cold flow material, e.g., Vistanex (LMMH) tradename of Exxon Corporation

In the event that the additional oligomeric elastomer is added, the remainder of the wax should be added in the increments of about 25% of the total wax, each addition under continued mixing and temperature. It has been found that a particularly effective compatibilization component is a microcrystalline wax having a melting point of about 195.degree. F.

Once the elastomer component in combination with the compatibilization component has reached a highly viscous substantially single phase homogeneous mass, the resin component can be added, also preferably in step-wise increments under continued conditions of low shear mixing and elevated temperatures. In particular it has been found that high molecular weight polyvinyl acetate in an amount of about 30 to 45% of the overall weight of the gum base can be added to the masticated elastomer in increments of about 1/3 each step and blended for about five minutes during each addition.

As a result of this unique combination and method of mixing, the elastomeric and resin component come together to form a miscible single phase homogeneous plastic mass to which a texturizing component can be easily incorporated without undue processing effort. It is important to note that the initial processing steps have been conducted at a temperature maintained between 220.degree. to about 250.degree. C., at which point most of the heretofore known plasticizers would vaporize and boil off. This is especially true since under the mixing conditions, the temperature of the working plastic mass can easily attain a temperature of about 270.degree. C. Thus, it is important to use very high boiling point waxes in order to prevent loss of compatibilization component during mixing.

At this point, a texturizing component can optionally be added which usually includes materials such as fillers, softeners, emulsifiers, anti-oxidants, etc. Examples of fillers suitable for use include calcium carbonate, aluminum hydroxide, alumina, magnesium carbonate, dicalcium phosphate, talc (3MgO.4SiO.sub.2.H.sub.2 O), magnesium trisilicate, magnesium hydroxide, aluminum silicates, silica gel, organic fillers and combinations thereof, calcium carbonate being one of the preferred fillers. In the event that acid flavors and/or acid sweeteners, such as a free acid form of saccharin, acid cyclomate or aspartame are employed in a final chewing gum composition, it is preferred to employ a non-chalk filler such as talc.

Other softening agents which can be included over texturizing component are glyceryl triacetate, acetylated monoglyceride, benzyl benzoate, benzyl butyrate, etc., with gylceryl triacetate being a preferred softener.

Other components include the use of hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated vegetable oils or animal fats such as soybean, cottonseed, corn, peanut, palm oil, tall oil, and lard.

Additionally, emulsifiers and anti-oxidants, such as butyl hydroxyanisol can be added as required.

Actual samples of the present invention have been prepared utilizing a general composition formula as shown below in Table I.

In order to effect proper formation of a homogeneous substantially single phase gum base it is important that the solid elastomeric component be heated to a compatibilization temperature before the compatibilization component, which must be one that will not volatilize at such high temperature, can be added and worked with the elastomer.

In particular, it has been found that in the case of the more specific formulation shown in Table II below, the elastomeric component should be heated to a temperature of from about 220.degree. C. to about 250.degree. C., before step-wise addition of a compatibilization component is commenced.

In the case of the above formulation, it has been found that the solid butyl rubber can be raised to the desired temperature at which point portions of the high melting point wax can be added under mild mixing conditions with for example, a sigma blade mixer at low rpm's until different levels of consistency are attained after each addition.

Optionally, the non-solid butyl rubber oligomeric material can be added which has been found to particularly enhance the preparation of the elastomeric component. Once a essentially homogeneous plastic mass has been attained, the resin component can then be added also in a step-wise manner followed by addition of the texturizing component in increments of, for example, the filler material, followed by a vegetable oil, and softeners such as triacetin and finally the emulsifiers and/or anti-oxidants In general, it has been found that once the elastomeric component has been heated to the desired temperature for mastication, the additional ingredients can be added in by order of decreasing melting points.

This can be compared to the conventional gum base which requires masterbatching the rubber at 150.degree. to 180.degree. C. during which time the rosin esters should be used to solubilize the rubber to the degree necessary to incorporate lower melting point components. Additionally, as a unexpected attribute of the gum base formed in accordance with the present invention, the process for making the overall composition can be continued without the need for cooling or otherwise aging the base material. Thus, a continuous process could be employed in order to effect formulation of a chewing gum composition.

A specific chewing gum base formulation was prepared in accordance with the composition set forth in Table III.

The solid butyl rubber material was heated under pressure of approximately 30 pounds per square inch to a temperature of 220.degree. C. to 250.degree. C. and stirred with a sigma blade stirrer until the material reached a fine particulate consistency, e.g., sandy consistency. At this point approximately 1/4 of the compatibilization component (high melting point microcrystalline wax) was added and stirred for 10 minutes after which a second portion of the wax was added and stirred. This procedure could be continued until all the wax material or compatibilization material is added, but it has been found that a particularly effective composition method includes the addition of a non-solid butyl rubber material under the low shear mixing conditions. This addition of the non-solid material such as an oligomeric butyl rubber material can be included as one of the steps for masticating the elastomeric material. In the present example, after two portions of about 25% each of the high melting point wax were added, the non-solid butyl rubber was added and stirred for about 15 minutes followed by addition of two more portions of about 25% each of the melting point wax, followed by 10 minutes of stirring per each addition. At this point the elastomeric material had achieved a substantially single homogeneous plastic mass, to which the resin, high molecular weight polyvinyl acetate, was added in increments of 1/3 each followed by stirring about five minutes after each incremental addition. Upon addition of the high molecular weight polyvinyl acetate the temperature of the overall mass is still at about 220.degree. C., which, under the work generated by the sigma blade mixtures, can achieve temperatures in the range of about 270.degree. C. Thus, as a result of the present invention it would be impossible to use softeners known in the art, such as glyceryl triacetate, having a boiling temperature of about 258.degree. C., since it would flash off under the mixing conditions of the present invention.

Once the elastomeric and resin gum base components have been compatibilized, a texturizing component which includes traditional gum base ingredients can then be added. In the present example, calcium carbonate was added and stirred for about 10 minutes followed by step-wise additions of the palm oil in increments of 1/3 portions of the overall amount followed by stirring for about five minutes for each portion. Finally, glyceryl triacetate was added with five minutes of stirring followed by the addition of butyl hydroxyanisol and stirring of the over all composition for 20 minutes under a reduced temperature. The resulting gum base was a substantially single phase homogeneous mass which was easily composited into different commercial type chewing gum compositions.

A second chewing gum base was prepared in accordance with the composition shown in Table IV.

As in the previous Example, the solid butyl rubber was heated under pressure of about 30 pounds per square inch to a temperature of from about 220.degree. to about 250.degree. C. followed by the step-wise addition of four approximately equal portions of a high melting point wax, each addition followed by 10 minutes of low shear stirring with a sigma blade mixer. Once a homogeneous plastic mass is achieved, polyvinyl acetate is added in three portions each portion followed by about five minutes of low shear stirring. Again, at this point a substantially single phase base material has been formed and to which a texturizing component which includes filler, vegetable oils, softeners and other ingredients can be added. In the present Example, calcium carbonate was then added followed by 10 minutes of stirring and the palm oil was added in 1/3 increments, each increment being stirred for five minutes each. Finally, the triacetin was added as a softener and stirred for five minutes before adding the butyl hydroxyanisol and overall stirring for 20 minutes. As before the gum base of the present invention was a very smooth, good film-forming gum base material which can be used with either sugar-containing or sugarless chewing gum compositions

Upon review of the above description and specific Examples of the present invention, one skilled in the art will readily understand its applicability to other gum base compositions which normally require the use of wood rosin esters in general, and, in particular, ester gums as well as terpenes.

Thus, while there have been described what are presently believed to be the preferred embodiments of the invention, those skilled in the art will realize that changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention, and it is intended to claim all such changes and modifications as fall within the true scope of the invention.